Poker is a game of skill but some players take this to the next level by playing for real money. The best players in the world earn enormous sums of money and even rake in millions just by winning one tournament. It’s no wonder that this form of poker has become so popular. But how do these professional poker players do it? Do they actually play with real money or do they rely on luck and their natural talent?
The truth is that both of these things are required to be a successful poker player. Professional players are incredibly intelligent and have studied poker strategy for years in order to be able to compete with the best in the world. However, they also have to keep a close eye on their bankroll and only play with the amount of money that they can afford to lose.
While some of these players may be able to make enough from tournament earnings to sustain them, others have to rely on other sources of income. One of these is sponsorship deals, with big name poker players often being paid large sums to represent the websites that they play for.
In addition, many top players are able to attract the attention of other businesses and are paid to promote their products. This can be extremely lucrative for some players, especially those who are able to generate significant followings on social media.
When it comes to playing for real money, most reputable online poker sites offer a wide range of real money games. The games available at these sites vary in terms of formats, variants and buy-ins. In addition, most regulated online poker sites offer a range of free-to-play games that are great for beginners and those who want to practice before making a deposit.
As for playing for real money, most professional poker players will begin their careers with a bankroll of at least a few thousand dollars. This is necessary in order to be able to overcome any barren spells that are bound to happen near the beginning of any career.
Another factor to consider is that it is very rare for a poker pro to keep all the money that they win in a tournament. Most players are staked by those who recognise their talent and will take a cut of anything that they manage to win. This is particularly common in the MTT world but is less prevalent in cash games. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that the figures above only include tournament earnings and do not take into account any money that a player might spend on entering the event. As a result, the true earning potential of professional poker players is far greater than the figures shown here.